15th Jan 42 Unloading of ship completed. Lectures on Jap tactics
given to all ranks. Lieut-Gen. Percival, G O C Malaya spoke to all officers
at 1700 hours. Warning order to move received during evening. Two officer's
interpreters joined.

17th Jan 42 Battalion moved to Ayer Hitam by MT less 1st. Ref.
(Total of 36 Officers 777 OR's). CO and Recon party reported to 11 Div.
Comdr at Ayer Hitam. Bn disposed north and East of Ayer Hitam. Recon of
Yong Peng carried out during afternoon. In evening orders received to
move to Jemaluang.

18th Jan 42 Battalion moved by MT to Jemaluang. Took over def.
positions, which had been previously received.

19th Jan 42 Three patrols sent out during morning. One to Kluang
Road then North. One to Mersing Road W. One East towards the sea. At 1200
hours orders received to move to Kluang, afterwards altered to Ayer Hitam.
Owing to shortage of transport Battalion moved in two parties. CO went
ahead and reported to Comdr 11 Div. at Ayer Hitam.

21st Jan 42 'B' Coy took up defence position facing West. About
2 1/2 miles West of Ayer Hitam. Sent out patrols that encountered the
Japs, Two men wounded and one missing. During evening road to Batu Pahat
reported blocked.

22nd Jan 42 At dawn patrol of two patrols-plus one carrier sec,
made contact with British Bn at 73 Mile Stone. They reported road open.
Battalion ordered to keep road open throughout the day. Coy's disposed
in blocks as far as 73-Mile Stone. One patrol Coy-plus five carriers and
two armoured cars moved forward to contact B Battalion. About 1600 hour's
D Coy made contact with enemy near 73rd Milestone. One patrol was ambushed
and Captain S. C. H. Boardman, O. C. Coy, was killed. Orders to move to
Batu Pahat received about 1730 hours. In meantime one carrier returned
and reported road blocked. No knowledge of other carriers or forward patrols.
No information from D Coy patrols. Discussion on phone with Div. Commander
resulted in order to stay in area 72nd Milestone. During night and move
to Batu Pahat in morning. D Coy patrols withdrawn and Battalion harboured.
No information regarding one patrol A Coy or carriers.

23rd Jan 42 At dawn cycle patrol - plus one patrol B Coy acting
as advance guard moved forward 1/2 mile and encountered a road block.
Cycle patrol fired on. B Coy patrol tried to by-pass roadblock but was
unsuccessful. Lieut. G. H. R. Pallister seriously wounded. Remainder of
B Coy endeavoured to outflank roadblock on North. Several casualties -
2/Lieut. P. H. McKean killed. 3" mortars used on supposed enemy positions
and C Coy put round South flank. All efforts to move block unsuccessful
at that time. C Coy successful in getting two patrols beyond roadblock
but did not get across road. At approx 1130 hours Div Commander ordered
Battalion to withdraw to Ayer Hitam into harbouring area South of village.
CO reported to 11 Div at 1300 hours and received orders to be ready to
move at 1600 hours by MT to Batu Pahat via Skudai and Pontain Kechil.
Battalion moved off at 1600 hours and went into harbouring area five miles
West of Skudia. CO reported to Commander 28 Bde at Pontain Kechil.

24th Jan 42 Battalion left harbouring area at 0400 hours and arrived
two miles South of Batu Pahat at 0700 hours. CO met Commander 15 Bde who
ordered him to report to Lt. Col. G. C. Thorne, O C. 2 Cambs. This he
did, and received information that 2 Cambs had commenced withdrawal the
previous evening and had been stopped just clear of the town. Col. Thorne
ordered 5 Norfolk's to retake and occupy 2 Cambs previous positions in
centre and on East of town. Zero 1045 hours Battalion attacked with two
Coy's forward (A right, D left) supported by 3''Mortars and one tp RA.
(No F O C, only Map shooting). Success on left. A Coy and the right pl
of D Coy heavily engaged from area cross roads Ayer Hitam and West. No
further movement was possible through difficulty of getting support of
3'' Mortars and RA on to enemy positions owing to lack of communications.
There were indications of a threat from two high positions East of Main
road. At 1500 hours B Coy were ordered to occupy these features which
they did. They were then attacked and had to withdraw below the crest.
It was decided to regain this hill at night.

25th Jan 42 C Coy together with remainder of one coy 2 Cambs attacked
at 0400 hours. Attack was unsuccessful although Coy reached a position
just short of the crest. During previous night and early morning 24/25
Jan 42 fairly heavy mortar and L.M.G fire was experienced. The line was
readjusted during morning, the enemy making no effort to attack. About
1300 hours Bde Commander ordered Battalion to hold present positions and
cover withdrawal of 2 Cambs, then withdraw. Thinning out commenced 2100
hours and positions were finally abandoned at 2115 hours. Battalion marched
back about 4 miles and were then ferried by M T to crossroads near Batu
Pahat Aerodrome. Arrived at mid-night.

26th Jan 42 Battalion was disposed tactically according to 15
Bde orders, relieving British Battalion. During morning CO went to HQ
15 Bde at Sangarrang and received information that road from Sangarrang
to Rengate had been cut by several blocks. At approx 1000 hours the Battalion
was ordered to move towards Sangarrang, sending all transport ahead. At
1430 hours Battalion was ordered to protect transport and stand by ready
to go forward with transport when blocks had been cleared. At this time
some 250 vehicles were on the road head to tail with head of column just
off Sangarrang Bridge. At 1745 hours Bde Commander ordered all transport
to be destroyed. All men were to make their way to South of Rengate across
country and Bridge was blown at 1830 hours. Battalion less a few stragglers
crossed the Bridge, majority going North.
27th Jan 42 Majority of Battalion (approx 500) reached Benhut about 2300
hours. Another party (approx 160) went South of road and made for coast.

28th Jan 42 Main party reached B Echelon near Skudai about 0400
hours where they received rum and tea. At 1100 hours this party proceeded
to Serangoon Road Camp, Singapore by MT.

13th Feb 42 Battalion took up defensive positions. D Coy right
- A Coy centre - C Coy left. B occupied 2 Cambs area until arrival of
2 Cambs about 18oo hours and then went into Battalion res. At approx 2000
hours right forward pl of A Coy were attacked. Attack was beaten off with
few casualties. Heavy firing and shelling all night but not on Battalions
positions.

14th Feb 42 Heavy attack on 2 Cambs resulted in left flank being
exposed. Line was readjusted by 2 Cambs counter-attack and by putting
in B Coy less 1 pl between 2 Cambs and 6 Norfolk. During night enemy infiltrated
between 2 Cambs and forward and rear pls of C Coy establishing machine
gun posts in C Coy res pl area. RA support was excellent. SOS fire called
for by C Coy.

15th Feb 42 Both A Coy and C Coy endeavored to eliminated MG post,
3'' mortars assisted. Battle on A Coy and C Coy fronts continued from
dawn to 16oo hours. By order of Command 53 Bde Battalion ceased fire at
1600 hours. Strength of Battalion 30 Officers and approx 660 Other Ranks.